Hat-shaping device



A. s. HENKEL'.

HAT SHAPING DEVICE. APPucATIoN msn MAY21.|918.

l 1,392,828, Patented 'om 4, 1921;

lhasv been accomplished.

TENT OFFICE.

AUGUST G. HENKEL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO D. B. FISK 6ft CO., OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS. v

HAT-SI-IAPING DEVICE.

l1,'; ,92,s ;2e.

Y Application led May 21,

,for use. in connection with the vacuum process or method employed for shaping hats,

Whether of felt, straw or other material; the

invention being more particularly intended for use inconnection with the process and apparatus set forth and described 'in United `VStates Letters Patent No. 1,080,731, of Decemberth, 1913. flhe method as described in said patent requires the employment of an elastic, impermeable membrane or hood,

in conjunction Wit-h. the molds or dies,

whereby the material or hat is .shaped through the action of vacuum formed Withinlthe mold and membrane or hood.

In the practice of the process just referred to, the hat or material, previously impregnated with the proper size, is placed on the vmetal mold ordie, and the latter, together With the hat or material, placed on a perforated vheating member or hot-plate. The hat and mold, aswell as the upper perforated portion of the hot-plate,are then covered or inclosed With the membrane or hood,

by'fastening the latter to the hot-plate so as toprovide an inclosure to be'heated in a suitablemanner, as,.for example, by superheated steam from a suitable source of supvacllum inducing apparatus, which enables a vacuum being formed in the hot-plate and space beneath the hoodor membrane after proper'heating of the die or mold and hat The steam-applying `element vor `heat-supplying yconduit is thenshut o f fromits communication with the hot-plat@ and the vacuum-inducing apparatus brought into communication with the hot-platel I lny practice, the hood or membrane is usually secured tothe heating chamber or hot- .plate' by a suitable tape or belt, placed around the sides of the hot-plate and so securedas topermitthe quick removal of the hoodor membrane'when the forming action Specification of Letters Patent.

`Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

1918. Serial No. 235,825.

has been completed.V After the hood or membrane has been put into place, the heatmgchamber or hot-plate, as Well as the superimposed die or mold, are heated to a considerable degree, in order to properly heat the material or hat and the size with which it is impregnated.

The vacuum subsequently induced in the hot-plate and superimposed die causes the membrane to be drawn down snugly about the die or mold and also into more or less contact With the perforated top of the heating chamber or hot-plate.

It is evident, therefore, that the hood or membrane, in additionto the point Where it is secured in place on the sides of the hotplate, is constantly brought "by the suction Laction or vacuum into contactnot only With chamber or hot-plate with the result that the I membrane or hood notonlybecomes soiled, butalso scorched, andvtherefore soon becomes defective and results in a leaky hood or membrane which prevents its proper action in shaping or forming of the hat.

The object of my invention is to provide means, in the naturev of an interchangeable die ormmold-seat, preferably of suitable metal, Vwhich may be readily put into place on the heating chamber4 or hot-plate to support the mold or die in such manner as not to` interfere with the proper action of the hot-plate' and hat shaping members, but which Will prevent the hood or membrane from being drawn into contact with the nonacting sides vof the mold or die and the perforated top of the hot-plate. ply. The hot-plate is also connected with a lilith my improvement, the hat-forming vprocess hereinbefore described can be practised to greater advantage and with greater eiiiciency; a smaller sized hood or membrane membrane or hood in forming relation with the hat induced by the vacuum; while the initial position of the hood or membrane is shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved die-seat or supporting means; and- Y ed tofform a fiat brimmed hat Which, is indicated at 12; While the recessed portion of the die forms the crown.

In practising the method herein before set forth, the recessed or crown-forming portion of the die is placedin contact with the perforated top of the heating member or hot-plate 13. The hot-plate 13 is of a size suitable for the various sized dies or molds employed, being preferably circular and provided With a pair of conduits 14 and 15. VOne of the conduits, as for example 14, is connected with a suitable source of steam supply; the flow whereof into the hot-plate or member 13 may be controlled and quickly shut off by means of a suitable valve, not shown; While the other conduit 15 connects with suitable apparatus, not shown, for

Vcreating a vacuum in the hot-plate 13;

' After the die 10and the hat 12-vvhich has previouslybeen impregnated with sizehave been placed on the hot-plate 13, the membrane or hood 16, composed of suitable impervious material, is secured tothe side of the hot-plate'13 over the superimposed elements, as shown, in Fig. 1; any suitable means, as for example a cloth strap, shown at 17, and providedwith a suitable buckle, being employed to hold the hood or apron 16 inV place, so as to provide an air-tight closure. A

In order that the entire die or mold may be properly heated, the top of the hot-plate 13 is provided with a suitable number of perforations throughout the entire top and therefore beyond the crown portion of the die, as shown in Fig. 1. Y It is apparent that unless some means are provided, intermediate of the hot-plate 13 and the margin or perimeter of the mold or die 10, that Will constitute a closure for they intervening space, the steam issuing from the hot-plate 13 through its perforations T:vill come into direct contact at the sides beneath the rim ofthe die Wit-h the hoodor membrane 16 and cause theV latter todeteriorate.

It is also evident that after the heating operation is discontinued, and a vacuum is created throughrthe` hot-plate 13, that the Y hood or membranev 16 Will not only be drawn into close and shaping relation with the hat on the die 10, but will also be drawn underneath the flange of the die into contact with the sides of the mold or die and the exposed top of the hot-plate 13, Where it will not only become soiled, but also scorched and made defective.

In order to overcome these serious-.difficulties, I have devised the removable and interchangeable die-seat member 1S, shown in perspective in Fig. 2. This member 18 is preferably made of suitable metal; substantially circular, conforming With the'hotplates, and of a height approximating the predetermined depth of the recessed portion of the die, so as to inclose the space between the hot-plate 13 and the'rim of the die or mold 10. In order to provide a proper seat for the rim or flange portion of thedie or mold, I prefer to provide the die-seat member 18 with an inwardly'presented fiange 19 at the top; While the member 18 is preferably Vmade slightly sloping outwardly to- Ward the bottom so as to practically extend to the perimeter of the hot-"platel,` as shown in Fig. 1.

My improved die-seat member Will prevent the membrane or hood 16 coming into contact `With the top of the hot-plateY 13 when a vacuum is vcreated therein, and therefore prevents the hood .from being scorched as is the case with the `constructions previously employed. Furthermore, by preventing the hood from becoming drawn in beneath the flange or rim portion of the die and'rover the perforated top of the hotplate 13, the efficiency "of the appara-tus and method are greatly enhanced, as the perforated surface is left free land unobstructed for the full action of the created vacuum; practically the entire pres` sure, resulting from the vacuum, is applied to the hat and hood or membrane, with the result that the great'` loss in percentage'of vacuumpressure heretofore encountered in Vits action on the hood in contact With the perforatedhot-plate, is'noW eliminated and a great saving in effective pressure percentage induced; Wear and tear on the apparatus or machinery heretofore 'encountered, reduced; and an increase of perfect or flawless merchandise effected. Y

In order to adapt my invention vto a greater variation in the sizes of dies or molds, I disclose a removable top member or. fiat seat 20, see Fig. 3, Which is in the nature of a flat surfaced member substantially circular so far as the outer perimeter is concerned, With tvvo sides of greater Width at diametrioally, opposite pointsthan the remainder of the seat memberr20 so as to over'- lap or extend beyond the top iiange'g19 of the main die-seat member v18 and provide contact or suitable support for the superimposed flange or rim portion ofthe die.

Displacement of the member 2O is prevented by the pins 21, which are adapted to extend into the holes 22, 22, formed in the flange 19 of member 18, as illustrated in Vthe vertical dimension of the die seat member 18, as above stated; the member 20 being dispensed With or removed Where the usual sized molds or dies are in use. v

Aside from preventing injury to the membrane or hood, as hereinbefore stated, my invention makes it possible to use smaller sized hoods, With the result that a considerable saving in hood material and its cost is eected; and the consumption of steam greatly reduced.

My invention also enables the operator to obtain a more secure fastening for the hood on the hot-plate, and possibility of miscalculation in the proper distribution of the hood over the die avoided, as the hood is prevented from being drawn in beneath and around the die.

In preventing the wetting and injury of the membrane or hood, the invention eliminates the possibility of staining and discoloring the merchandise or hats and also insures a proper nish for the hats; With the result that the cost of production is materially reduced and the output of superiorly linished merchandise greatly increased.

What I claim as my invention and Wish to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In hat shaping devices of the class described, consisting of a hot-plate provided With a perforated top, a hat shaping die superimposed centrally on the hot-plate and a exible hood secured at the sides of the i hot-plate over the die, die-seat means comprising a metallic band of dimensions substantially equal tothe Vdimensions of the hotplate top, and a flat ring removably secured to the band top.

2. In hat shaping devices of the class described, comprising a hdt-plate provided With a perforated top, a hat shaping die superimposed on the hot-plate and a eXible hood securedV to the hot-plate across the die, die-seat means consisting of a metallic band of diameter substantially equal to the diameter ofthe hot-plate top and adapted to rest thereon adjacent the perimeter thereof, a flat ring adapted to rest on the band top, and means whereby the band and ring are held against displacement.

3. In a hat shaping device of the class described, the combination of a horizontally disposed hot-plate having a perforated flat top, a die, superimposed centrally on the hot-plate, having a laterally disposed rim, the die and its rim being provided with a plurality of perforations, and an interchangeable die-seat member consisting of a metallic band substantially equal in circumference at its bottom to the circumference of the hot-plate top so as to rest thereon Without obstructing the perforations of the hotplate, the side Wall of said band being of a height substantially corresponding With the depth of the recessed portion of the die and of internal dimensions greater than the external dimensions of the die to provide a chamber intermediatev of the band and the sides of the die, said band being provided at its top With an inwardly disposed flange adapted to contact with the rim of the die and form a seat therefor, With an impermeable fleXible hood adapted to be removably secured over the die and about the sides of said metallic band and the sides of the hotplate.

AUGUST G. HENKEL.

Witnesses GEORGE HruDMAN, F. A. FLORELL. 

